AMUSEMENTS.
[
Robert
Downing
](n00126) played to a very fair house at the [Lansing](n00066) last night. Although Mr. Downing's acting called forth repeated applause, the
audience seemed a little disappointed in his support. Mr. Downing has a fine
physique, but perhaps he depends a little too much on it. His acting is rather
free from ranting and is often both strong and moving, though after the phrases
upon which he has lavished especial power, there is always that
little pause and glance at the gallery, which is painfully suggestive.
The powerful frame which gives Mr. Downing his force in his heavier acting, is
rather against him in his lighter work, and in repose his figure has something
of the alderman about it, though his neck fulfilled all the rich and seemly
promises of his
play bills
playbills
. [
Miss Eugenia Blair
](n00128) is a beautiful and charming
soubrette who could play delightfully in [
"Little Puck"
](n00129) or in [
"Chums,"
](n00130) but she
is too American to wear the [toga](n00131). One keeps thinking how much more at home she would
be in extravagant evening costumes or cunning morning gowns. Miss Blair's
impulsive congress and decidedly "clinging" tendencies do not seem to sit well
on the woman who is supposed to be the daughter of heroes and mother of hunger.
One of the most important features of the play was the acting of a number of
university boys who suped as "Roman Citizens," and
whose one desire seemed to be to flee to the rear of the stage and hide the
awful brevity of their skirts and the awfuller length
of their stockings from the eyes of their professors who happened to be very
numerous in the audience.
At the Funke.
[
Pickett's
"Gaiety Girls"
](n00133) attracted a fair audience at [the Funke](n00132)
last night. Some of their work was of merit, chiefly in the specialty acts of
the second part. [
Frank Williamson
](n00134) furnished the major portion of the mirth.
Some of the female voices are slightly cracked. The girls will repeat the
entertainment tonight.
"The Silver King."
No play
written in recent years for the English or the American stages has drawn out
more favorable comment than [
"The Silver King."
](n00135) Its grand revival at the Lansing theater this afternoon and night will no doubt be seen by a
large house. Bring the children to the Thanksgiving matinee and give them
reason to be thankful. Prices this afternoon, 25 cents for
children and 50 cents and 75 cents for adults.
"The
Span of Life."
English
melodrama will receive an excellent illustration in [
"The Span of Life."
](n00136)
[
Sutton
Vane's
](n00137) thrilling, realistic drama is to have its first presentation in this
city at the Lansing theater tomorrow night. It is the story of a bad man
poisoning his half-brother for his money and trying to blast the reputation of
a rival in love. Startling incidents and thrilling situations abound, so that
there is not a dull moment in the course of the drama. Sale now on.
Fanny Rice.
[
Miss Rice
](n00138)
has selected as the piece de resistance of her programme
next Saturday night at the Lansing theater the very successful comedy [
"Miss Innocence Abroad,"
](n00139)
which has just ended a very long and successful run in London
and Paris. Miss
Rice will be seen in the role of [
Maria
](n01526), a character entirely different from
anything she has hitherto attempted. Sale
opens this morning.